The women’s 5,000 at the 2013 Areva Meeting got underway nicely thanks to American Gabriele Anderson, who did a good job of rabbiting here as she paced this through 2,400m.

250 meters remaining.

Anderson got the ball rolling and then World record holder Tirunesh Dibaba kept things going after that, but she surprisingly had some company at the bell. Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia, who had a PR slower than Molly Huddle coming in at 14:52.84, was right with Dibaba. Unbelievable.

Tirunesh was too good on the last lap (62.49) and got a comfortable win in a world-leading 14:23.68. The 21-year-old Ayana was second in a massive personal best of 14:25.84.

With the fast pace up front, the field quickly broke into two groups quickly and then a third group. The American record holder Molly Huddle (14:44.76 PR) did much of the leading for her group, but the pace slowly fell apart for her group as they were unable to break 15:00. She finished sixth in 15:10.56. Jackie Areson, the 2011 NCAA indoor champ at Tennessee and former member of Alberto Salazar‘s group, was three spots behind Huddle in a new personal best of 15:12.09. Areson’s mom is Australian and she’s now running for Australia even though she ran in the US Olympic Trials last year, as the US was gracious enough to release her. Amy Hastings was thirteen back in 15:28.79.

Quick takes, then video interviews with Dibaba and the American finishers, and then results appear below.

Plenty of reasons to be smiling after this one.

QT #1: This was an important race for Tirunesh Dibaba.

Dibaba came into this race undefeated on the year but trailing rival Meseret Defar badly in terms of seasonal best times at 5,000 and 10,000 (14:42 versus 14:26 and 30:26 versus 30:08). Dibaba’s now the world leader in the 5,000 thanks to her 14:23.68.

As we explained in our preview, if Dibaba didn’t run fast here, we wondered if she’d even bother with the 5,000 at Moscow, given the fact she lost the event to Defar last year. Now the 10,000/5,000 double for Dibaba is very much a possibility.

QT #2: A massive PR by nearly half a minute for Almaz Ayana in second in 14:25.84. That makes her the sixth-fastest woman in history.

The 21-year-old came into the year with a 14:57.97 PR and ran 14:52.42 to win in Hengelo in her only other 5,000 on the year. But to go from that to 14:25.84 in one race is really impressive. From a relative unkown to #6 in the world all-time in a single race. Incredible.

Ayana ran 9:22 in the steeple 3 years ago and has been trying to steeple. Guess what she ran in the steeple two days ago in Lausanne. Just 9:35 for 4th. Given her struggles in that event and now that she’s shown she can run the flats like this, we bet she never steeples again.

Interviews with Dibaba (via a translator) and the three Americans below (Areson is a dual citizen we believe). Areson, who had a 15:14.31 best before her 15:12.09 run today, talks a little about training in Houston with Steve Magness and actually enjoying the Houston heat. Nuts. After the interviews, you’ll find full results.